Leather-scrap-splitting machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. E. ROBERTS. LEATHER SCRAP SPLITTING MACHINE.

No. 358,883. Patented Mar. 8, 1887.

Zia orneja (No Model.)

` 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. G..E. ROBERTS LEATHER SGRAP SPLITTING MAGHINE.

No. 358,883. Patented Mar. 8, 1887.

Tuy 3.

n PETERS, Fmwmhngmpher. washingmn. n.0.

4 sheets-sheet 3. i

(No Model.)

G. E. ROBERTS LEATEEE SCRAP vSELITTING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. v8,1837l N, Fuses Pmoumugmpnef. wnhingwn'. o, a

4 Sheets--Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

C. E. ROBERTS.

LEATEEE SCRAP SPLITTING MACHINE.

8, mA A@ 3 o a jm m 2 ffm A uw .Z. .i rui, Y--

P A E 7 A, A f

,f A w g. AM ,m .y Em M. T y

hun whingtan. ltr.r C.

e UNITED v STATES `PATENT .OFFICE CII`ARLES E. ROBERTS, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

LEATHER-SCRAP-SPLITTiNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION' forming pari; of Letters Patent No. 358,883, dated March8, 1887.

Application filed October QG, 1856. Serial No. 217,221.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States,residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new andusefulImprovement n Leather-Scrap-Splitting Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for trimming or straightening one edgeof leatherscraps and splitting the same in such way as toleave a narrowmargin or hinge at its straight ened edge, uniting the parts together,so as to form, when the two leaves or split parts are opened out, apiece of about double the area ofthe original scrap.

The object of my invention is to simplify and eheapen the constructionas well as toincreasethe efficiency of the operation of such machines.

In my present improvement but a single pair of feed-rollers are employedto force and carry the leather-scrap agai ust and by both theedgetrimming knife and the splitting-knife. The splitting-knife ismounted between the two feed-rollers and the ed ge-trimming knife at theend of the feed rollers and transversely to the splitting-knife, anarrow space being left between the end of the splitting knife and theedge-trimming knife, so as to leave an uncut margin or hinge at thestraightcned edge of the leather-scrap. As that portion of the scrapnear the end of the feedrollers necessarily encounters the increasedresistance due to the edgetrimming knife over and above the resistanceoffered by the splitting-knife throughout the entire width of the scrap,where the two knives are thus engaged inoperative position between andabout a single pair of feed-rollers, the piece of scrap in passingthrough the feed-rollers will have a tendency to drag at the edg'e orcorner adjacent to the edge-trimming knife. I obviate this difficulty byproviding the feed-rollers with disks or shoulders of slightlyincreascddiameter at the ends adjacent to the edgetrimming knife, so that at thispoint, where the resistance is the greatest, the feed-rollers will havea firmer bite upon the leather-scrap. These shoulders are mostconveniently formed on the feed-rollers by simply securing a pair ofdisks of slightlyincreased diameter to the ends of the feed-rollers.

(No model.)

numerous experiments, that as the leaves of 55 the split scrap are beingopened out,while at the same time the scrap is being split by the knife,the split part of the scrap below the splitting-knife has a naturaltendency to ineline inward toward the base of the knife and pass down inan inclined line, because the opening of the split leaves, while theupper portion of the scrap is still nnsplit, hasatendency to draw erincline the uncut margin or edge of the scrap inward toward the base ofthe splitting-knife5 and I find that by mounting the liattening-rollersor flattening devices in this inclined path,whieh the scrap itselfnaturally takes after leaving the splitting-knife, all guides,spreading-blocks, or other devices may be dispensed with, and that thescrap will thus naturally pass and feed in a straight line past theedge-trimming knife and produce a straight edge for the leaves of thescrap to open or turn upon.

, In my present improvement one of the feedrollers is mounted instationary bearings on the frame of the maehine,while the otherfeedroller is mounted upon a transverse slide and yieldingly pressedagainst the stationaryfeedroller by means of a strong spring, and thesplitting-knife is mounted upon a movable slide just below the movablefeed-roller slide. The knife-slide is connected to the movablefeed-roller slide by means of a lever pivoted at or near one end to theframe of the machine, at its other end to the feed-roller slide, and atits middle point tothe knife-slide, so that whatever movement thefeed-roller slide may have, owing to the thickness of the piece ofleather passing between the two feedrollers, the knifeslide will havejust one-half that movement, and thus cause the knife to split the scrapaccurately in the middle. For the ICD purpose of adjusting the positionof the knife between the feed-rollers, this connecting-lever is pivotedto the knife-slide through the inedium of an adjustable block secured tothe knife-slide by adjusting-screws.

It frequently happens in the practical use of machines of this classthat scraps of leather are presented which will form two useful pieces,if first divided into two pieces and then each part split with thedividing-line as the uncut margin or hinge of each part. rlhe machinesheretofore in use, however, have had no means of passing the scrapthrough the machine in such position that the trimming oredge-straightening knife would or could divide the scrap on anapproximately median line. To enable my improved machine to accomplishthis result,I provide its frame with a slot or Opening at thetrimming-knife end of the feed-rollers, so that any desired part of thescrap may overhang or extend beyond the trimming-knife and still not beobstructed by the frame as the scrap passes through the machine. I find,also, that it very much facilitates the practical operation of themachine to provide an aligning-bar above the feed-rollers and on a linewith the trimming-knife, to guide the operator in turning or adjustingtheirregular-shaped scrap into proper position for passing through themachine. By means of the aligning-bar the operator can readily turn thescrap into the proper position, so that the straightened edge of thescrap will be complete throughout without trimming off any more thannecessary.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,and in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, I haveillustrated my invention as reduced to practice or embodied in aworking-machine in the form I believe to be the best now known to me.

In said drawings, Figure 1 :s an end elevation. Fig. 2 is a rear view;Fig. 3, a front view; Fig. 4, aplan; Fig. 5, a section on line 5 5 ofFig. 1; Fig. 6, a section on line 6 6 of Fig. l. Fig. 7 is a verticalsection ou line 7 7 of Fig. 4. Fig. S is a section on line 8 S of Fig.7. Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a section online 10 10 of Fig. 7. Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views showing thedevice for communicating motion to one of the movablefiattening-rollers; and Fig. 13 is a partial section of one of thefeed-rollers. Fig` 14 shows a method of adjusting theknife relative tothe feed-roll which may be employed, and Fig. 15 a modification.

In said drawings, A represents the main frame of the machine, B the xedfeed-roller mounted in suitable bearings thereon, and B the movablefeed-roller journaled upon the feed-roller slide Bwhieh reciprocates insuitable guides, A', on the frame of the machine.

C is the edge-trimming knife secured on the frame of the machine at theend of the feedrollers B B.

D is the splitting-knife, arranged between the feed-rollers B B andmounted upon the knife-slide D', which reciprocatcs in suitable guides,A2, on the frame of the machine just beneath the feed-roller slide B2.The slides B2 and D are connected together by a link or lever, E, whichis pivoted at or nearv its lower end to the frame A by a pin, c, and atits upper end to the slide B2 by a pin, e', and it is pivoted at itsmiddle point to the slide B2 by a pin, ci. rI`he slides B2 and D areprovided with slots or openings b d, through which the lever E extends.The slide D is also furnished with an adjustable block, D, secured inthe slot d by adj usting-screws d di, to which block the lever E ispivoted, so that the position of theknife between the feed-rollers maybe adjusted. rIlhe roller B is pressed against the roller B by means ofa spring, B3, fitted inthe cavity Bin the roller-slide BZ and pressingat its outer end against an adj usting-screw, B5, secured in the frameA. As the lever E is connected at its middle point to the knifeslide, itis obvious that the knife D will have just half the movement of themovable roller B when the same is separated from the roller B by thepassage of a piece of leather between them, and the leather willtherefore be split in the middle by the knife.

The feed-rollers B B are each furnished at the end adjoining thetrimming-knife C with a slight shoulder or portion of slightly-increaseddiameter, b b, so that at this point said rollers will have a firmer andtighter grip upon the piece of leather passing between them. rlhcseshoulders are preferably formed by simply securing,by means of screws orotherwise, thin disks of slightly greater diameter than the feed-rollersupon the ends of the feedrollers. rIhe periphery of these shoulders ordisks b b is preferably cylindrical or parallel to the surface of therollers B B.

The frame is provided with a slot or opening, a, between and at the endof the rollers .B B, adjacent to the trimming-knife C, so as to offer noobstruction to the piece of leather, whatever part of it may be severedby the edgestraightening knife. The feedroller B is driven from thedriving-pulley B, keyed to the sleeve B7, and which sleeve is keyed to ahollow shaft, B8, j ournaled in the frame of the machine by means of acoupling-rod, B, having a square or angular end, B10, which fits looselyin a corresponding socket iu the `end of the hollow shaft BS, and asimilar square or angular end Bu, which fits looselyin a similar socket,B12, in the end of the driving-roller shaft. By this means the roller Bmay move freely in and out or to and from the fixed roller B. rIheroller B is driven by means of a gear, B13, on its shaft, which mesheswith the gear Bl" on the hollow shaft B8.

The knife D is secured to the knife-slide D by means of a screw, d10,which enters a threaded hole in the knife-slide and passes through avertical slot, di, in the knife, so that the knife may be adjusted upand down. The face of the knife-slide D is furnished with a IIOhorizontally-adj ustable plate or block, D3, upon which the knife fits,so that the knife may be adjusted longitudinally to and from theedgetrimming knife. This adjusting-plate D is furnished with ahorizontal rib, d5, which fits in a corresponding groove, d6, in theknifeslide D. rFhe opposite face ofthe adjustingblock D3 is alsofurnished with a vertical groove or way, dl, in which a correspondingrib or projection on the knife fits. The adjusting-block D3 is securedto the knife-slide by screws d8, which pass through horizontal slots din the adj listing-block.

By means of the adjusting block or plate D3 and the horizontal andvertical guides or ribs and grooves therein and in the knife-slide andknife the knife may be readily adjusted both up and down to bring itscutting-edge into proper relation to the feed-rollers B B', and cndwiseto bring its end or corner into proper relation with theedge-straightening knife C. The edges of the splitting-knife andedgestraighteniug knife should be both about on the same height. Iprefer to arrange the edge of the splitting-knife about one-eighth oronequarter of an inch above the cutting-edge of the trimming-knife.However, the trim mingknife may be on a level with the cutting-knife, oreven slightly lower.

F F are a pair of fiattening-rollers, one of which, F, is journaled insuitable bearings on theknife-slide D', and the other of which, F, isjournaled upon a swinging bracket, F2, pivoted atj' to any suitable partof the machine, but preferably to the pivotal bracket H. The movableroller F is pressed against the fixed roller F by means of a spring, F3,which may also be preferably secured to the bracket H2. Theseiiattening-rollers F and F are mounted in relation to the edge-trimmingknife about as shown in Figs. 3 and 9 of the drawingsthat is to say,below said knives-and inclined inward toward the splitting-knife, and inthe position or path which the straightened edge of the scrap naturallyassumes while its leaves are being opened as it passes down from theknives. In Fig. 9 the path of the scrap or of its straightened edge isindicated by the dotted line. By combining the flattening-rollers withthe knives in this manner, so that the former are located in the pathwhich the edge of the scrap naturally assumes as its leaves are beingspread out, no guiding devices are required to direct the scrap to theiiatteningrollers, otherthan the mere feed-rollers B B, which force thescrap forward.

Where the flattening rollers or devices are arranged in a vertical linewith the end of the splitting-knifcs or the face-edge of thetrimming-knife, heretofore, and the scrap thus required to be directedout of its natural course, intermediate guide devices have been requiredto direct the scrap to the flatteningrollers, and this forced diversionof the scrap from its natural course has also tended (more or less) toturn the scrap as its passes through the feed-rollers, and thus causethe edgestraightening knife to produce a curved instead of a straightedge. By thus combining the iiattening-rollers with their meeting linein an inclined position in relation to a line passing at right angles tothe feed-rollers through the hinge or margin space between the end ofthe splitting-knife and the edge of the trimming-knife the scrap has notendency whatever to turn or to pass otherwise than in a straight lineby the edge-trimming knife.

The attening-roller F is not driven except by friction from itscompanion roller F. The movable roller F is driven from the shaft f bymeans of a connecting or tumbling rod, f, having square or angular endssimilar to the connecting-rod B", before described in relation to themovable feed-roller B.

As the pressure of the flattening-rollers F F is sometimes hardlysufficient to adequately flatten out the split leaves of very thick andhard scrap-leather, l provide the machine with a second and larger pairof flattening-rollers, H H', both of which are positively driven. Theroller H is mounted in fixed bearings on the frame of the machine, whilethe roller H is journaled in suitable bearings on the swinging bracketH2, pivoted at h to the frame of the machine. The pivotal bracket orlever H'l has a bent arm, H3, furnished with a spring, H*, which pressesagainst the frame ofthe machine, and by which the roller H is pressedagainst the roller H with the required force to conipletely Hatten outinto a plain sheet the leaves of the splitscrap. The movable roller Hhas a square or angular socket, 7L', in its end and is driven from thehollow shaft h2 by means of a connecting or tumbling rod, h3, similar tothe rod B, before described. Thehollow shaft h2 is journaled in theframe of the lnachine and is furnished with a bevel-gear, la, whichmeshes with a bevel-gear, h, on the shaft h6. The shaft 7i. is journaledon the frame of the machine and has a spur-gear, li, which meshes withan intermediaiegear, hg, that meshes with a gear, 7L, on the sleeve B7of the hollow driving-shaft BS. The hollow shaft hL has a gear, hl",that meshes with a gear, h, on the shaft of the other iiattening roller,H. The hollow shaftf, from which the iiattening-rollers F F are driven,has a spur gear, f3, which meshes with an idler-gear, j, that mesheswith the gear hm on the hollow shaft It".

To facilitate the turning of the scrap of leather x into proper positionto pass through the machine, l provide the machine with au aligningbar,K, the straight edge of which is on a line with the ends of thefeed-rollers B B', and with the edge of the trimming-knife C. Thisaligning-bar is secured to the frame of the machine and projects abovethe feedrollers, as shown in Fig. 2. rllhe operator, by placing a scrapof leather against or direct-ly behind or in front of this straight-edgeor y aligning-bar, can readily start the scrap between the feed rollersin such position that IVO IZO

the edge trimming knife will receive a wide enough trimming to produce acomplete straight edge, and without cutting off an unnecessarily widestrip.

llIy machine may be very readily arranged or adjusted so that thesplitting-knife D will serve to split the piece of leather in themiddle, orleave one part of the leather of any desired even thickness,instead ot' splitting the leather exactly in the middle. This may bedone by simply removing the pin e', and thus disconnecting theroller-slide Bl from the end of the connecting-lever E, and thenconnecting the roller-slide B2 and knife-slide D' rigidly together inany suitable manner. For this purpose I provide both the` roller-slideand knife-slide with registering-holes e", in which the pin e may beinserted. lVhen this is done,the knife will of course have the samemovement as the roller-slide or feed-roller B; and by adjusting theknife-slide so that the knife is the required distance from the roller Bthe knife D will of course split the scrap so that one of the splitparts is of a definite even thickness throughout. Vhen the machine isthus used for skiving pieces ofleather, the edge-trimming knife C may beremoved, if desired, or the splitting-knife may be adjustedlongitudinally, sotiat its end or corner is in line with the edge of thetrimming-knife C, and thus straighten the edge of the piece at the sametime it is skived.

As the connecting or tumbling rods h3, B", and f2 fit loosely at eachend in their sockets Y or hollow shafts, so as to permit the requisitelateral movement of the rollers, I provide the hollow shafts h2, BS, andf with caps or other devices t, to hold said connecting-bars fromlongitudinal movement.

I do not herein claim, broadly, a splittingknife slide connected withthe movable feedroller, so that the knife and knife-slide will have halfthe movement of the feed-roller, as that is the subject of anotherapplication heretofore tiled by me, and now pending in the PatentOfiice; nor do I herein claim the combination and arrangement of thesplittingknife and edge-trimming knife in operative position between orabout a single pair of 'leed-rollers, -as herein shown and described, asthat forms the subject of another application heretofore filed by me andnow pending in the Patent Office; nor do I herein claim the means hereinshown and described for communicating motion to the movablefeedroller-that is to say, the connecting-rod Bg and its associatedparts-as that forms the subject of another application heretofore filedby me, and now pending in the Patent Office.

The applications abovereferred to are Serial Nos. 179, 64 3, filedOctober 12,1S85,and 197, S25,-

ing knife C, and the flattening-rollers F F are mounted about in linewith this inclined end of the splitting-knife. By cutting away orinclining the end of the splitting-knife the knife is prevented fromobstructing the passage of the leather scrap in its natural path. Theknife D is adjusted up and down, when the screw or bolt d10 is loosened,by means of an adj Listing-screw, du, screwed into the block D3, theshoulder of which fits against the lower edge of the knife.

At Fig. 14: I have illustrated a method of adjusting the knife relativetothe feed-roll, so the leather may be cut to any thickness desired. Inthis construction the roller-slide is provided with alaterally-projecting head, O, in which is journaled a screw, I), havinga threaded connection with the knife-slide. The head O is clamped to theroller-slide by the screw 0 when the head is in service; but at othertimes the clamp is released. A collar, p, is placed upon ,the screw B toconfine it in the head.

At Fig. 15 I have shown a guard or deector, w, secured to the frame andfitting just below the trimming-knife C, for the purpose of defiectingthe shaving or trimming cut from the scrap by the knife C. The swingingframes F2 and H'l of the flattening-rollers F and H should both beprovided with stops to limit their inward movement,so that the rollers FF and II, II cannot quite touch each other.

If-preferred, the arm F" may be pivoted directly to the main frame ofthe machine, in` steadof to the swinging arm H2, andthe spring F3 mayalso be'secured to the rigid frame, if preferred.

IOO

Vhen the machine is to be used for the purpose of skiving, and the pine, which connects the lever E with the knife-slide B2, is removed, theknife may be adjusted and fixed at a determinate distance from the fixedfeed-roller B by means of an adj Listing-screw or other deviceconnecting the k ni'fe-slide with the main frame ofthe machine. In somecases this is preferable to adjusting the knife-slide so that the knifeis at a fixed distance from the movable roller B', as before mentioned,and as illustrated in Fig. 14:. l

I am aware that heretofore the feed-rollers have been made of slightlyconical form, as shown and describedin the patent to George I. rllyler,No. 319,357, of June2, 1885, for thepurpose of crowding the scrap orstock up against the edge-guide with which such machines are provided,and I hereby expressly disclaim the same as not of my invention. In myinvention the feed-rollers are cylindrical, and are furnished with acylindrical shoulder or disk at one end, of slightly-increased diameter,for the purpose of overcoming the increased resistance occasioned by theedge-turning knife at that edge or corner of the scrap.

I do not herein claim the following subjectmatter, to wit:

In a leather-splitting machine having a IIO fixed and a movablefeed-roll and a splittingknife having its cutting-edge between andparallel with them and movable at right angles to their axes, thecombination of the movable feed-roll or the movable support upon whichit is mounted, with the movable splitting-knife or the movable supportupon which it is mounted, and mechanism connecting ihe roll orroll-support with the knife or knife-support to adjust the edge of theknife between the rolls to splitdierent thicknesses of stock in themiddle;77 nor, the combination, with an edge-straightening knife, of asplittingknife and feed-rolls for carrying the stock to be trimmed andsplit against the said knives, a gage-plate or guide and aspreading-block or opener at the end of the said splitting-knife, and apressing device or rollers for fiattening out the pieces which have beentrimmed and split, nor, in a leather-splitting machine, the combinationof feed-rolls, a splitting-knife, the edge-guide, and the flaringopener, both guide and opener being adjacent to one end of thesplitting-knife;77 nor, ina leather-splitting machine, a splitting-knifein combination with a fiaring opener set rearwardly of the edge of saidknife, whereby as a piece of leather which has been split to a hinge atthe edge passes the knife the flaps of the split piece will be spreadtoward or into the same plane; nor, the combination, in aleather-scrap-splittin g machine with a single pair of feed-rollers, ofan edge-straightening knife and a splittingknife, both arranged inoperative position between said one and the same pair ofmfeed-rollers,said edge-straightening knife being at the end of said splitting-knife,with a space between the same to leave an uncut margin or hinge unitingthe two leaves or split parts of the scrap, such being thesubjects-matterV of several interferences heretofore declared between mysaid former applications, Serial Nos. 179,643 and 197,825, and certainother parties.

l. The combination, with a pair of feed-roll ers,a splitting-knife andan edge-straightening knife, of a pairof attening-rollers, F F', belowand under said splitting-knife, the ends of the splitting-knifeprojecting entirely over the inner roller,F, and partially over theouter roller, F', so that the meeting line or face of said rollers F F'is in an inwardly-inclined path from a vertical one or line passingbetween the edge-straightening knife and the end of saidsplitting-knife, substantially as specified.

2. In a machine for splitting and spreading leather-scrap, thecombination, with apair of feed-rollers, of a splitting-knife and a pairof flattening-rollers below and under said splitting-knife,the end ofsaid splitting-knife projecting entirely over one of saidflatteningrollers and partially over the other, so that the meeting lineor face of said fiatteningrollers is in an inwardly-inclined pathdownward from the end of said splitting-knife, substantially asspecified.

8. In a machine for splitting and spreading leather-scrap, thecombinatio11,with a pair of feed-rollers and a splitting-knife, of apair of flattening devices, substantially such as depath downward fromthe end of said splitting-knife, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with afixed feed-roller, of a movable feed-roller, afeed-roller slide, a splitting-knife, a splitting-knife slide, and aconnecting-lever, E, pivoted at or near one end to the frame of themachine, at the other end tothe roller-slide, and at its middle to saidknife-slide, substantially as specified.

5. The combinatiomwith a fixed feed-roller, of a movable feed-roller, afeed-roller slide, a splitting-knife, a splitting-knife slide, and aconnecting-lever, E, pivoted at or near one end to the frame of themachine, at the other end to the roller-slide, and at its middle to saidknife-slide, said knife-slide being l provided with an adjustable block,D2, to which said connecting-lever is directly pivoted, substantially asspecified.

6. The combination, with feed-rollers B B', of feed-roller slide B2,splitting-knife D, splitting-knife slide D', suitable guides or ways onthe frame of the machine, in which said slides B2 D are mounted, aconnecting-lever, E, pivoted to the frame of the machine and to saidslides B"7 D', said slides being mounted one above the other andprovided with slots or openings through which said connecting-lever Epasses, substantiallyas specified.

7. The combination, with a fixed feed-roller, of a movable feed-roller,a feed-roller slide, a splitting-knife, a splitting-knife slide, and aconnecting-lever, E, pivoted at or near one end to the frame of themachine, at the other end to the roller-slide,and at its middle to saidknife-slide, and a spring for forcing said movable roller against saidfixed roller, substantially as specified.

S. rlhe combination, with feed-rollers B B', of feed-roller slide B2,edge-trimming knife C, splitting-knife D, splitting-knife slide D',connecting-lever E, pivoted to the frame of the machine and to each ofsaid slides B2 D', and a knife-adj usting block or plate, D3, providedwith a horizontal rib or guide on one face and a vertical groove orguide on the other, substantially as specified.

9. The combination, with the feed-rollers, of a splitting-knife, D, anadjusting block or plate, D3, and a knife slide or head, D', saidadjusting-block being furnished with a horizontal rib fitting in acorresponding groove in said knife-slide, anda vertical guide or groovein which fits a corresponding rib or guide on the knife, substantiallyas specified.

10. The combination, with a fixed feed- IOC IIO

roller, of a movable feed-roller, a reciprocating feed-roller slide uponwhich said movable iced-roller is journaled, a parallel reciprocatingsplitting-knife slide, a splitting-knife carried upon and rigidlysecured to said knifeslide, said knife-slide and roller-slide beingmounted in rigid parallel guides on the frame of the machine, one abovethe other, and means for connecting said slides together,so that theknife-slide will be operated by the movement of the roller-slide and thesplitting-knife kept parallel to the feed-rollers, substantially asspecified.

11. The convertible device for splitting leather in the middle,orskiving the same,con sisting in a xed feed-roller, a movable feedroller,a feed-roller slide, a splitting-knife, a splitting-knife slide, saidslides being mounted in suitable guides on the frame of the machine,one'above the other, a connecting-lever pivoted to the frame of themachine at one end and at its middle to said knife-slide and providedwith means for pivoting the same at its other end to said roller-slide,said roller-slide and knife-slide being also provided with means forconnecting the saine rigidly together, substantially as specified. Y

12. The convertible device for splitting leatherlin the middle,orskiving the same, consisting in a Xed feed-roller, a movable feedroller,a feed-roller slide, a splitting-knife, a splitting-knife slide, saidslide being mounted in suitable guides on the frame of the machine, oneabove the other, a connecting-lever pivoted to the frame of the machineat one end and at its middle to said knife-slide and provided with meansfor pivoting the same at its other end to said roller-slide, saidroller-slide and knife-slide being also provided with means forconnecting the same rigidly together, and an adjusting-block secured tosaid knife-slide and to which said connecting-lever is directly pivoted,substantially as specified.

13. The combination, with a pair of feedrollers, asplitting-knife, andan edge-trimming knife, of an aligning-bar, K, projecting above thefeed-rollers in line with the cutting-edge of the trimming-knife,substantially as specifled.

14. The combination, with a pair of feedrollers, an edge-trimmingknife,and a splittingknife, of a pair of flattening-rollers set under theoverhanging end of the splitting-knife, and a second pair ofIiattening-rollers below the former, the upper pair ofiiattening-rollers serving to partially spread and iiatten out the splitleaves ofthe scrap and the lower pair of rollers completing suchoperation, whereby the passage of the split scrap through the machine isfacilitated, substantially as specified.

15. The combination, with a splitting-knife and an edge-straighteningknife transverse to said splitting-knife, of a pair of feed-rollersprovided with the squ are shoulders of slightlyi increased diameter attheir ends adjacent to said edge-straightening knife, substantially asspecified.

16. The combination, with a splitting-knife and an edgestraighteningknife transverse to said splitting-knife, of a pair of feed-rollersprovided with shoulders of slightly-increased diameter at their endsadjacent to said edgestraightening knife, said shoulders consisting ofthin disks secured to the ends of said rollers, substantially asspecified.

17. rllhe combination, with Vfeed-rollers B B', of edge-straighteningknife C, splitting-knife D, attening-rollers F F', swinging bracket VF2,flattening-rollers H H', and pivoted bracket H2, said bracket F2 beingpivoted to bracket H", substantially as specified.

18. The combination, with feed-rollers B B',ofedge-straighteningknifeC,splitting-knifeD, iiatteningrollcrs F F',swinging bracket F2, flattening-rollers H H', and pivoted bracket H2,said bracket F2 being pivoted to bracket H2, arm H3, and springs F3 andH4, substantially as specied.

19. The combination, with the frame of the machine, of feed-rollers BB', feed-roller slide B2, spring B4, driving-pulley BG, sleeve B7,hollow shaft B8,and coupling-rodB9, havingsquare or irregular endsfitting loosely in sockets in the shaft of said movable roller B andin'said hollow shaft B8, substantially as specified.

20. The combination, with feed-rollers B B', feed-roller slide B2,spring B4, edge-knife C, splitting-knife D, splitting-knife slide D',lever E, connecting said slides B2 D', flattening-rollers F F' and H H',driving-pulley B, and connecting mechanism, substantially as hereinshown and described, for communicating motion to said rollers B B F'andH H', substantially as specified.

21. In a machine for splitting and spreading leather-scrap, thecombination, with a pair of feed-rollers and a splitting-knife having anoutwardly-inclined end, of apair of flattening devices, substantiallysuch as described, or their equivalents, between which the uncut marginor edge of the scrap is passed, the inclined end of said splitting-knifeprojecting beyond and over the meeting line or faces of saidsprcadingdevices, substantially as specified.

22. The combination, with a pair of feedrollers, of a splitting-knifehavingan outwardly-inclined end, and a pair of flatteningrollers belowsaid splitting-knife and in line with its inclined end, substantially asspecified.

23. The combinatiomwith a pair of feed-rollers, of a trimming-knife, C,a splitting-knife, D, having an outwardly-inclined end adjacent to saidtrimming-knife, and a pair of flattening-rollers below saidsplitting-knife and in line with its inclined end, substantially asspecified.

24, The combination of splitting-knife D, having vertical slots d4, withblock D2, having vertical guide or groove for said knife, and verticaladj listing-screw d, for adjusting the knife up and down, substantiallyas specied 25. In a convertible leather splitting and IOO IIO

IZO

skiving machine, the combination, with a pair of feed-rollers, of amovable splitting-knife, a splitting-knife slide furnished withdetachable mechanism, substantially as described, or its equivalent, foroperating1 said splitting-knife slide, and also With a detachabledevice, substantially as described, or its equivalent, for connecting orsecuring said knife-slide rigidly in a fixed position in relation to oneof said feed-rollers, substantially as specified.

26. In a convertible leather splitting and skiving machine, thecombination, with a fixed feed-roller, of a movable feed-roller, areciprocating slide upon which said movable feedroller is journaled, asplitting-knife, and a reciprocating slide carrying said knife, saidknife-slide and roller-slide being provided with detachable connectingmechanism, substantially as described, or its equivalent, whereby theknife-slide may be operated by the movement of the roller-slide, andsaid knife-slide being also furnished with means, substantially asdescribed, or its equivalent, for securing it rigidly in position inrelation to one of said feed-rollers, substantially as specified.

27. The co1nbination,with a fixed feed-roller, of a movable feed-roller,a feed-roller slide, a splittingknife, a splitting-knife slide, and alever pivoted to the frame ofthe machine and to said knifeslide andfurnished with means,sub stantially as described, or its equivalent, fordetaehably pivoting it to said roller-slide, said knife-slide being alsofurnished with means, substantially as described, or its equivalent, forsecuring it rigidly in position in relation to one of said feed-rollers,substantially as specified.

28. In a machine for splitting leather in the middle, a clamp foruniting the slideof one of the feed-rolls and the knife-slide rigidlytogether, in combination with the roll and knife and their slides,substantially as specified.

CHARLES E. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

H. M. MUNDAY, EDMUND ADcocK.

